Pantex Employee Receives NNSA Gold Medal Award

Pantex Employee Receives NNSA Gold Medal Award

NNSA Administrator Lt. General (Ret.) Frank Klotz presented Waltzer the award during a recent visit to the Pantex Plant. Waltzer is retiring after completing 35 years of government service.

AMARILLO --Karl Waltzer, Acting Deputy Manager of the National Nuclear Security Administrations Production Office, has received the NNSA Gold Medal Award in recognition of his distinguished achievements in support of national security programs.

NNSA Administrator Lt. General (Ret.) Frank Klotz presented Waltzer the award during a recent visit to the Pantex Plant. Waltzer is retiring after completing 35 years of government service.

During the ceremony, Waltzer received recognition for his outstanding and dedicated leadership and performance. Lt. General Klotz said, “Karl has been instrumental in assuring the safe, secure and successful execution of many notable programs associated with the U.S. nuclear deterrent, including stockpile life extension and dismantlement programs.”

As Acting Deputy Manager for NPO, Waltzer has been responsible for overall management and executive direction of technical programs, projects and activities performed by the NNSA Production Office (NPO) at Pantex and the Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Waltzer was instrumental in the creation and startup of the NPO, which began operation in June 2013, and replaced the Pantex and Y-12 Site Offices.

Waltzer previously served as the NPO and Pantex Site Office Senior Scientific and Technical Advisor. His responsibilities included serving as the primary technical point of contact for the design agencies, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board and other advisory organizations regarding the development, integration and implementation of nuclear safety requirements for operations at Pantex and Y-12.

Waltzer began his career at Charleston Naval Shipyard supporting the refueling and overhaul of naval nuclear powered submarines. In 1991, he joined the Department of Energy's Savannah River Operations Office as a systems engineer for H-and F-Canyon operations. He transferred to the Pantex Site Office in 1999 where he worked as a senior nuclear safety analyst. He later served as the Pantex Site Office Assistant Manager for Oversight and Assessment and as the Assistant Manager for Nuclear Engineering.

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